Drying and aerating machine.



J. SPARKS a]. L. c. WMERS.

DRYING AND AERATWG NiAi-HNE.

APPLICATION FI'LED MAY 19 \915.

Pamm W! Mm 2 SHEETS-SHEET 'I.

1 A. SPARKS 6L LiC. WATERS DRYING AND AERATING MACHINE. APPUCATION HLEDMAY 19. i915.

IE 131mm M mm.

' cunt" DRYING AND AERATINQ MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 2M, 1! with,

drying and aerating machine especially designed for use in connectionwith the processes of dry and other cleaning.

The invention has as its primary object to provide a machine adapted.through the medium of centrifugal action. to thoroughly expel all soils,dirt and other foreign matter,

and to dry and expel all of the cleansing fluid or commodities from thearticles placed within the machine and, to at the same time thoroughlyaerate the said articles so that the odor of the said fluids orcommodities will be entirely removed therefrom.

The invention has as a further object to provide a machinc of thischaracter so constructed that in the normal operation thereof, aircurrents within the machine will be automati rally set up to thusctl'ectually aerate the articles placed Within the machine.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide a machine soconstructed that the moving air currents within the machine in thenormal operation, thereof will tend to induce an inflow of fresh aircurrents which latter air currents will be directed immediately towardor against the articles placed within the machine, so that all odors ofany cleaning fiuids'and commodities clinging to the articles will beremoved therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rotatablymounted basket adapted to receive the articles to be dried and of suchcharacter as to attain maximum. results upon the said articles, throughthe force of centrifugal action, when. rotated at any given speed.

The invention has as a further object in this connection to provide anin'iproved mounting for the basket so constructed and arranged that thebasket may be easily rotated and that a ready access may also be had tothe basket for the purpose of placing articles therein or removing thearticles from the basket. And the invention has as a still furtherobject to provide an improved device of this character which will be duliable in use, and which may be placed upon the market at moderate cost.

Other and incidental objects appear as the description proceeds and inthe drawings wherein we have illustrated the preferred embodiment of theinvention and wherein similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts tl'iroughout. the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved device, Fig. :2 is asectional vle\v more particularly showing the construction and mountingof the several elements of the device, Fig. 23 is a perspective viewparticularly showing the shaft supporting the spider. carried by the.basket employ-ed, and Fig. el is a fragrulentary sectional viewparticularly showing! the mounting of the basket.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention as illustrated in thedrawings. we employ a base which includes a preferably rectangularplatform 10 havin, sills 11 to which are secured cross-pieces or boards1'2. Mounted upon the platform It) is a block 13 at one end of which isarranged a vertically disposed and transversely extending block 14.

Rising from the block 13 at its extremity opposite the block ll arespaced vertically disposed posts 15 and 16 respectively, the said postsbeing arranged s-zuhstantiall v' parallel and being secured to the block1?). Connecting the posts 15 and 10 at the upper extremities thereof aplate 17 and bearing over the said plate and arranged within the linesof the post 15 is a brace strap 18. the said strap and plate being heldin position by scren s 19 or other suitable fastening; dc vices. Thestrap 18 is, at its free end sultablyconnected to the block 13 as moreparticularly shown in Fig. l of the drawings and is thus adapted torigidly support the said post. Extending between the post 16 and theblock H is a cross-piece 20 disposed in substantial parallel relation.to the block 1 and having its extremities respectively secured, in anysuitable manner, to the post 1(3 and to the said l. lock. Mounted uponthe block 13 and supporting the cross-piece 20 intermediate its ends, isa post ll which is, as will be observed upon reference to Fig. 2 of thedrawings, arranged in spaced substantially parallel relation to theblock 14:.-

Arranged to seat flatly against opposite (Ill side edges of thecross-piece Q0 and extendinp; between the posts 16 and :21 respectively,are closure plates The plates are provided with laterally directedlongitudinally extending flanges seating flatly against the adjacentupper face of the block 13 and are detachably meld in position by screwsor other suitable fastening devices as clearly illustrated in Fig. l ofthe drawings. Mounted upon the base thusformed, is a driving mechanismfor the basket em ployed. This mechanism includes a tooth wheel arrangedbetween the 'posts 15 and it; and mounted upon a shaft 25 which isjoiu'nalerl within suitable sleeves 26 carried by the posts 15 and 16respectively. Connected to the outer terminal of the. shaft is a crank27 which is provided with a handle Mimntedupon the posts 16 and 21respectively and arranged substantially parallel to the block 13 is adrive shaft 25 which is journaled, adjacent its extremities in suitablesleeves 30 carried by the said posts. Keyed upon the shaft 29 at oneextremity, is a pinion 31 while a beveled gear 372 is keyed to theopposite extremity of the shaft.

Mounted upon the cross-piece 20 to abut at one side with the post 16 isa preferal'ily cylindrical casing 33 which is open at its upper end andthe bottom wall 3% of which is secured to the said cross-piece in anysuitable manner. Formed on the bottom wall, adjacent one side of thecasing is a discharge spout 353 while the said wall at a point centrallythereof is provided with a suitable miening which is surrounded by anupstanding annular collar 36 projecting laterally into the casing asmore partimilarly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The purpose of thiscollar will presently appear.

Arranged within the casing 33 is a preferably cylindrical basketdesignated as a whole by the numeral 37. ilhe basket- 37 is prefer ablyprovided with a solid bottom wall 38 and a foran'iinous circular wall39, the wall being formed with circumferentially spaced series ofvertically arranged openings as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.Freferably these openings relatively small in diameter and are arrangedin close spaced relation, this also being for a purpose which willpresently appear. Formed on the wall 39 at the open end of the basket isa substantially frusto-conical rim e0 Seating against the outer face ofthe bottom M11128 of the basket is a shaft supporting spider 41, bestshown in Fig. 3 of the (lira-Whigs. This spider 41 includes a preferablycylindrical body portion 42 arranged centrally of the wall 38 and fromwhich extend qua'tlrantly spaced arms 43. The "arms 443 at the outerextremities thereof are providecl with laterally directed lugs 44seating against the circular well an of (in basket to be secured theretoin any suitable manner. Formed on the body portion 2.52 and arrangedaxially of the basket is 'a' (yr-- lindrical socket or sleeve 45 whichis pro- The collar a rrang'ed to react with an anti-friction hear" I ingseated within a suitable recess formed in the adjacent upper face of thecrosspiece .20 as more particularly shown in Fig. :2 of the drawing.

The anti-friction bearing 50 is shown in detail in Fig. l of the.ll':i\\'ll7, i:5. and it will be observed that the said bearingincludes an annular substantially cup shaped casing 51 within which arearrancje l boa: hear ing rings 52 and 53 resgnuziively. luierposedbetween the said rings ruse. antzi-frirtion devices 5- while the. casingis form d with an inwardly extending annular lla 55 arranged to maintainthe several rleu'ieuia of the bearing in assembled relat on. it will nowbe. observed that the ring or. is substantially frustorvinical. in.contour and is adapted to freely receive the shaft 47 to coact with thethrust collar -18. Thus. the bearing 50 will freely support the entireload of the basket and the contents thereof. it being, observed that thesaid basket is mounted concentrically within the casing 33 with theshaft 47 projecting freely through the collar 36 and extending freelythrough the cross-piece 20. Preferably, the shaft 47 at its free end isdetachably received within a suitable bearing sleeve 56 mounted withinthe block 13, so that the said shaft will be rigidly sup orted in.operative position.

Removaby keyed upon the shaft 47 is a beveled pinion 57 arranged tocoact with the beveled gear 32 and as will now be readi ily understood.the basket 37 may thus be readily rotated by turning the crank 27. Theratio of'the. gearing between the tooth wheel 24 and the beveled pinion57.n1ay, o course, be varied atwill, but is preferably so formed thatthe basket 37 will be rotated at a relatively high rate of speed, whilethe crank 27 will turn but slowly. Thus, with comparatively small efforton the partof the operator, maximum results may be atmined through thecentrifugal action set up.

within the basket 37 and in this connection attention is directed to thefact that in makama Mia in the openings within the circular wall 39 ofthe basket relatively small and, arranging the openings in close spacedrolatiom it has been found in use, that in providing a relatively largenumber of such openings Within the said circular Wall, that a basket so'lm'uiod will oilioieutly operato, when rotated at a relatively highrate of speed, to eil'ect a. thorough drying of any articles plaootlwithin the basket.

Closing the open end of the casing- 33 is a frusto conical lid or cover58 which at pori ihory is' provided With. on. annular laterally directedflango 5Qaclapted to tionaily engage the Wall of the casing; to providea tight joint between the easing and the lid. lllouuteri Within the lidaml opening through the apex thereof an aro ially arranged tubularair-spout or inlet- 60 inner terminal of Whiolu whom the lid is appliedto the casing, La arrangqocl as will he observed upon reference to 2 oftho drawings, to extend rortioally within the casing andtEtXHllI'liilSfi-ZS laterally upon our. sideoi. and alrovo tho upon andof tho basket 37. Connected to the lid 58 in any suitable mariner is ahandle, 61. whi h. is armoured to extend over the outer curl. of thespout 60 to provido a guard. th Haviug thus described tho ooustru theinvention, its operation will now be more fully set forth. It will beohsz-arvotl that tho basket 37 is supported in spaced relation to the,casing 33to provide an air space betweou the bottom oi the basket anclthe bottom Wall 34; of the casing and to also provide an annular airspace surrouuoliug the basket. use, the articles to ho dried and,aoratotl, are placed. within tho basket and the basket is rotatedthrough the medium of tho oraulr E2? or other power (lGVlCQ. Thecentrifugal. 'tion thus set up Within. the basket will for. any moistureWithin the said articles out through the openings in the WalliBll of thebasket to be discharged through tho spout.

35 of the casing 33, attention being pa new larly directed in thiucouooo to l-caot that the collar 36 1s aclaptod to prov 'ru iature orfluids frouroomiug iu mutant with the shaft 27 or the bearing; 5%, thuseliminating the necessity tho uao of a packing gland betweontho i. saidsluiift. The rim. 41) of the haslrot law imporforato, will prevent anymoisture 9.2:- tractod lroui the said articles from. boiusg thrownupwardly by the rarli'al movoruo to he tlisnhargod at tho open thereof.i l hon tho basket 3" is thus rota the movement thereoit will a upwarddraft within the casing in the annular upao r: hotu'oen the circularwall tho baslrot a? l the oaaing, which draft will flow or moi oupwardly within the casing to strike the frustwcrmioal lirl 58. Thisupwaril draft upon striking the lid 58 will ilirootool thereby towardthe age" of the lid to he thence directed rlou'm fly oral iui'varcllyinto the open end of the basket to flow freely past too open ourl of theair spout '60. This {low of air within the casing 33 will tcncltoprmluoo. a partial vacuum within the basket so that odors clinging tothe articles placed within the said huskot will be drawn therefromoutwardly anal into tho annular space hetwoou the casing aru circularwait of basket. The {i in flowing over the inner open oucl of the fro-ahair spout 60 will also croato )Z'ifi'filllfil vacuum within the saidspout to ouuuo fresh to ho drawn in through tho upout Whom it will hoLiirooterl thereby iiuroodiatoy toward or against the articles placedwithin. tho hasloat. Such fresh air ho 5 thus brought into intimatecontact with 1o articles being driocl, will ulfootually aerate tho uaiclarticlos to practically KGIHOVQ all oil the odors of any liquids oracids proviously used in tho cleaning of the artiolou,

It will thorotoro he soon that Wo provide a device adapted toSlZiH'Hl'iZLJZEOHSlI? dry and. aerate the artiolos placorl thoroio, andwhich will he foui'iel durable and thoroughly oilio' iu 7 1, ring th sCloucriborl our iuvoutiomWhat Woolaim am tlosiro soouro by Latter-s:autiszv l. clovice of tho character r'i riorihotl iuoludiug acasiug'provirloql with a tliuoliargo opening, a basket rotatahly:uiouutucl Within the casing and providerl with a perforation; a coverfor the casing, a. spout opening through the cover and clopomliugontiroly Within the top and bottom lines thoroof toward the hasuet and.moans for rotating the haolrot to Mt up at). iuf'iowiug currout of airnow through thospout into tho basket to lilfi air through 'd spout intothe haslro, be drawn through poriforation therein 5 oxpllorl through thoraid; lisohargzju {I} ing.

3. A. dorico of ti cruoliug a or t1 casing spout opomug outlet out dayurlii tor-min i, m above and moaua tor rotating;

an. billowing current air cliuchtrgo too spout into the basket to bedrawn through the perforation therein and expelled through the saiddischarge opening in the casing.

4-, A device of the character described in eluding a closed casingprovided with a discharge opening, a basket rotatable within the casingand provided with a perforation, an inlet depending into the asing andof uniform diai'neter througlniutand terminating above the upper line ofthe basket, and means for rotating the basket to cause currents of airto pass through said inlet into the basket and escape through saidbasket perforation and the discharge opening in. the casing.

A device of the character described in .cluding a closed casing providedwith a dis-

